Paint wiper device



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March 12, 1957 J. P. KATSIKAS 2,

PAINT WIPER DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1955 52 u sh IN V EN TOR.

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HTTORNEKS United States Patent PAINT WIPER DEVICE Joseph P. Katsikas, Bay City, Mich. Application August 9, 1955, Serial No. 527,238

5 Claims. (Cl. 220-90 This invention relates to means for attaching a synthetic thread or the like to a paint can so that a brush can be wiped thereon and excess paint removed from the brush.

After a paint brush has been dipped into a can of paint it is common practice to wipe the brush across the upper edge of the can to remove some of the excess paint and decrease the drip and splatter which occurs as the brush is being moved and applied to the surface being painted. This practice unfortunately does not remove a sufficient amount of the excess paint to eliminate dripping or running, and is disadvantageous in that it fills the cover sealing groove in the upper edge of the can with paint, and when the cover is applied this paint often spurts to the person or clothing of the painter and to the surrounding area. While various wiper wire devices have been proposed to fit on an open paint can, none have been as simple or practical as the construction which I have designed, or ofier as many advantages, and to my knowledge none of them have appeared on the market.

One of the prime objects of my invention is to design a brush wiper which can be firmly secured to paint cans of varying size and shape and which can be very easily removed therefrom for transfer to another can.

Another object of the invention is to design a brush wiper comprising a flexible thread or filament tautly stretched between a pair of clamps or brackets which include means for tautly securing the particular length of thread necessary to span the can as well as means for securing the clamps to the side of the can.

A further object of the invention is to design a wiper of the type described wherein the thread or filament is secured within the can below the upper edge thereof, however, the means for clamping the ends of the thread in position are disposed above the can where they are readily accessible without getting paint on the hands, etc.

Another object of the invention is to design a wiper of the type described wherein the clamps can first be securely mounted on the sides of the can and the thread stretched taut between the clamps.

A further object of the invention is to design wiper means in which the wiper element is readily replaceable when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide wiper means of simple and practical design which can be very economically manufactured and sold at a price which is not prohibitive.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that equivalent changes may be made in the various elements which comprise the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the wiper is secured on the upper end of a paint can.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a paintcan illustrating the wiping operation.

drawing wherein I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention a letter W generally indicates my wiping means which comprises. a flexible plastic thread 10' tautly stretchedbetween a pair of identicalclamps 11; The latter clamps which are of unique construction are adapted particularly for the purpose described are generally U shaped and include inner and outer legs 12 and 13 respectively depending from an intermediate horizontally disposed section 14. It will be observed that the legs 12 are longer than the legs 13 and are bent slightly outwardly at their terminal ends to space them from the inside wall of the paint can 15.

Provided in the legs 12 are a pair of vertically spaced openings 16 and 17, and as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the thread member 10 are threaded through the openings 17 and thence through the openings 16 so that they can thence be drawn across the upper faces of the sections 14 of the clamps.

Threaded openings 19 are provided in the portions 14 to receive clamping bolts 20 which have washers 21 loosely mounted thereon, and when the ends of the thread 10 are passed between the washers and sections 14, it will be obvious that thebolts 20 can be tightened down to firmly secure the ends of the thread in position.

Provided in the outer legs 13 are threaded openings 22 which receive elongated cap bolts 23 for securing the clamps to the can 15 as shown.

To mount the wiper on an open can is a very simple operation. The clamps, with thread 10 connecting them with relatively little slack, because the ends thereof are threaded through openings 16 and 17, are first secured in position on the upper edge of the can by tightening down the clamp bolts 23. With one end of thread 10 tightly secured by one of the bolts 20 under the washer 21 thereon, the opposite end can then be stretched until the thread 10 is sufiiciently taut and secured by the bolt 20 in the opposite clamp under its washer 21.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have perfected a very simple wiper device which can be very readily mounted on a paint can or other container and thence removed and as easily mounted on another can of a different size, it merely requires a longer or.sl1orter thread.

In all cases the foregoing descriptive text and drawing are to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principle of the invention rather than as in any Way limiting the same, since it is to be understood that various changes in the various elements to achieve the same results may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. In wiper means for a paint brush, clamps adapted to be secured in spaced apart relation on the upper edge of an open paint can, each clamp having a section supported on the top of said can wall and a leg depending therefrom into said can, said legs having at least two vertically spaced apart openings therein, a thread with its ends projecting through the lower openings and thence being brought back through the upper openings and across said sections, and clamping means threaded into said sections clamping the ends of the thread when it has been stretched taut.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said clamping means comprise bolts with washers loosely Patented Mai-.12, 1957- 3 thereon under which the ends of said thread may be secured.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which depending legs are formed on the edges of said sections opposite the legs previously defined, said last defined legs having threaded openings therein, and laterally disposed clamping bolts in said latter openings for engaging the side wall of the can and securing the clamps thereon.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which the lower terminal. ends of said first mentioned legs are bent 1O outwardly away from the inner wall of the can below the axes of the laterally disposed bolts.

5. In wiper means for a paint brush, clamps adapted to be secured in spaced apart relation at the upper edge of an open paint can, each of said clamps having a sec- 15 tion to be supported on said upper edge of said paint can and from which a leg extends, each of said legs having a number of openings therein, a thread spanning the distance between said clamps and being threaded through the openings in said legs, and means mounted in each of said sections for receiving the ends of said thread and holding said thread in taut relation between said clamps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 861,305 McFadden July 30, 1907 1,381,248 Stevens June 14, 1921 2,647,658 Sievern et a1. Aug. 4, 1953 

